In 2024, Val Giordano, freelance writer and editor, using UNESCO’s studies, found that over 600 million books have already been published worldwide, with another 2.2 million books published yearly. Yet despite this abundance, many still struggle to find a good book.
According to Scott H. Young, a Wall Street Journalist best selling author, adults are reading fewer books than before, which is a worrying trend, as books play a crucial role in one’s life.
“Reading is a way to get the author’s thoughts,” says Erika Banks, a senior at BBHHS. “Reading allows you to enter a world of your own, to get lost in a story. It’s not just something that can be very pleasing, but also a way to learn new things.”
Various students and teachers at BBHHS were asked about their reading habits. It is somewhat concerning to find that many struggled to name books they have loved. It is even more worrisome that in many of the interviews (not included), many shared they hadn’t read in months and strongly disliked books.
Madame Macahainy, the French teacher at BBHHS, says she doesn’t get to read much anymore. However, when she does, she loves romance books and anything love-related. She also enjoys cookbooks. While she doesn’t read often, she loves it when students recommend a book. Ultimately, though, she said she would rather watch the movie.
Student Recommendations:
Lizzie Radd, a freshman and lover of mystery, thinks the book Scythe by Neal Shusterman is really worth the hype. It is a dystopian YA novel about two teens, Citra and Rowan, who live normal lives until they are chosen to become apprentices to a Scythe. They must master the art of killing because if they fail to take others’ lives, their own lives are at risk.
Recently, Radd read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. This book blends mystery and romance, following a woman who raises herself in the marsh. The story intertwines with a murder investigation, leading to a long series of twists.
Olivia Minor, a freshman who also loves mystery, recommends The Giver by Lois Lowry. It is a dystopian book about a boy living in a seemingly perfect society where, at age 12, everyone is assigned a job. In this world, only the Receiver of Memory holds the memories of the past, as society sacrifices freedom for control.
Jayla Collard, a sophomore, enjoys nonfiction and romance. She really likes Five Feet Apart by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott, and Tobias Iaconis. The book tells the story of teens who fall in love but must stay a few feet apart to avoid risking their lives.
Alex Bram, a freshman, finds Divergent by Veronica Roth very engaging, with an interesting plot and dynamic characters. The book follows a girl who lives in a Chicago society divided into five factions, though she feels she doesn’t fit into any of them.
Modern Novel Class Insights
Banks is part of the Modern Novel class, which focuses on reading and analyzing books. She loves a variety of genres, including fantasy and political literature. She spends nearly every day reading, including newsletters and poems sent by various sites. Recently, she read Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, describing it as “a good intro to classic literature” for those interested in exploring classics. For fantasy lovers, she highly recommends Sarah J. Maas’s books.
Noah Eckerman, also a senior in the Modern Novel class, enjoys nearly any genre as long as it has a good plot. Both he and Banks agree that psychology books are particularly interesting. Recently, they read Nightshade, a psychological thriller, which Eckerman found captivating.
Amelia Elting, a senior, loves young adult novels. She recently read Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, a story about a high schooler dealing with OCD and anxiety while grieving the loss of her father.
Noah Polman, another senior in the Modern Novel class, gravitates towards science fiction and fantasy. He tries to spend at least half an hour each day reading. Currently, the class is reading The Princess Bride by William Goldman, a favorite of his that he has read multiple times.
Books That Missed the Mark
While reading brings joy to many, some books simply don’t resonate. We asked students about books they wished they could throw across the room—or actually did.
Minor said that Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is overrated. The slow-paced love story with its old-fashioned language makes it difficult to read and understand. Radd agreed, saying the book is boring and doesn’t deserve its hype.
Bram mentioned The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, describing it as painfully boring. This classic, published in 1908, is about a Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad who navigate various obstacles in the woods.
Eckerman and Banks criticized We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, describing it as rushed and poorly put together. The book follows a girl dealing with a severe head injury and memory loss, which causes conflicts among her friends. Eckerman noted that much of the content felt unnecessary.
Rachel Petterson, a freshman, believes that teachers often overhype books. Many of the required readings in the curriculum, she feels, get more praise than they deserve.
Polman, on the other hand, believes there’s no such thing as a bad book, claiming, “Every work of literature has some amount of merit.”
Lastly, several students advised readers to steer clear of Colleen Hoover’s books. Although known for her romance novels, she has recently faced backlash for allegedly promoting abusive relationships and anti-feminist messages. Many of her books involve women in abusive relationships, which has sparked criticism.
For those interested in reading more often or during the school day Modern Novel may be a class for you. A class dedicated to practically being a “book club” where they read books and analyze them.
